Topic: Taking portraits of strangers

[hookstrapped]

For a long time I've wanted to take portraits of strangers, but have been afraid to try. I like taking portraits. And I like taking pictures of strangers, but always rather furtively while doing street photography (though I want to do some street photography in the William Klein style of seeking out someone in the crowd who looks straight in the camera -- but for another day).

I describe how I came upon doing a series of street portraits in the Photo Essays board -- http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=10069.0

I go out for about an hour every morning to take a walk, for vitamin D and sanity, and the photos were taken then. I did it for 5 weeks in my neighborhood in Brooklyn in April-May, all within a 20 minute walk of my apartment. I'd say my Yes:No ratio when I told people what I was doing and asked if I could take their picture was about 3:1, and I said I could give them a card with my email if they'd like me to send them a copy. Quite a few people have taken me up on that and are very happy to receive the pics and to be part of the project.

I think three things helped make the process successful: 1) I had a succinct plausible pitch, "I'm taking pictures of people out and about wearing masks"; 2) People were wearing masks so were maybe a bit less concerned about their faces appearing all over the internet; 3) I shot with an old twin lens reflex.

After years of resisting TLRs, they are now my favorite type of camera to use. For one thing, it looks like a real camera. It lent a bit of seriousness and credibility to the project. As my daughter said, It's not like you're going up to people sticking an iPhone in their face. And it's a very friendly camera -- you look down at the waist-level finder instead of holding it up to your eye. I think that allows more human contact between the photographer and subject. And many folks were curious about it, saying their dad had one, or would tell me a project they did in school with milk cartons and mirrors, or ask if you could still get film for one -- "They still make film?!?"

Anyway, I learned some things about taking portraits of strangers that I hope to apply when we're no longer wearing masks.

The whole series
https://www.hookstrapped.com/album/masked-portraits-april-may-2020.html

[Francois]

I get the "they still make film for that?"  comment all the time too.
But I've never had to guts to ask people knowing too well that I'm the worst salesman in existence and that people will just say no.

My best bet would be to do a bit of training to run really fast and use the run-and-gun technique like Dougie Wallace or Bruce Gilden... but then that's definitely not in my personality...

Somehow, I'm trying to imagine you Peter doing the Bruce Gilden thing and for some odd reason it just doesn't stick 

[Indofunk]

Yeah, the "they still make film???" comment is the most common thing I hear. Even when I don't have a camera anywhere near me and I just mention that I shoot film

Glad you're getting more comfortable shooting strangers on the street, it's still something that I'm deathly afraid of

[Francois]

Well, there is a way to do it comfortably: 500mm mirror lens

[jharr]

I got 2 photos in to my "100 Strangers" project and gave up. I started it because I thought it would help me get over my "people-phobia" and also teach me something about taking impromptu portraits. It was just so nerve-wracking for me to approach strangers that I gave up. I decided that I have enough stress in my life without making my enjoyable hobby stressful. I'm glad other people do this because I really like looking at street/stranger portraits. It's just not for me. I've never been nervous approaching a flower or a tree. They are infinitely patient subjects.

Keep up the good work!

[Sandeha Lynch]

That's a great set, Peter. Admirable. I hope you can get more.

Totally agree with the TLR thing, there's something totally right about having your second pair of eyes just below your main eyes when you're talking to someone.


160601_proh1_01a by Sandeha Lynch, on Flickr

[Indofunk]

I got 2 photos in to my "100 Strangers" project and gave up. I started it because I thought it would help me get over my "people-phobia" and also teach me something about taking impromptu portraits. It was just so nerve-wracking for me to approach strangers that I gave up. I decided that I have enough stress in my life without making my enjoyable hobby stressful. I'm glad other people do this because I really like looking at street/stranger portraits. It's just not for me. I've never been nervous approaching a flower or a tree. They are infinitely patient subjects.

Keep up the good work!

I stopped at one Yes, completely nerve-wracking, and since it's not like I need to do this for a living or something, I'll just stick with what I'm comfortable with

[hookstrapped]

I just want to say a couple things

1) like I said, I was scared to approach strangers before doing this project, too. But people for the most part are nice, even when refusing. Be respectful, be polite, and nothing bad will happen.

2) As we move out of the lockdown, unlikely to return to it even if things get bad again for economic and political reasons, this project took on a larger meaning for me. It's a plea.

Keeping businesses shut down is hard. Wearing a mask is easy.

Not knowing if you might be passing on an infection to someone who could get seriously ill is hard. Wearing a mask is easy.

Even though new infections and hospitalizations and deaths in NYC have dropped a lot, people in my neighborhood, at least 90%, are still wearing masks. Wearing a mask is easy.

[hookstrapped]

In TimeOut New York

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/this-local-artists-new-photo-series-captures-new-yorkers-in-masks-061820

[Bryan]

In TimeOut New York

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/this-local-artists-new-photo-series-captures-new-yorkers-in-masks-061820

Congratulations Peter! 

[Blaxton]

Great work, Peter.  Congratulations.  I'm curious.  Did Time Out select the six shots or did you?

[hookstrapped]

Thanks. TimeOut selected the shots. I gave them access to all 26 to download and that's what they chose. It was interesting for me to see which they picked. I actually agree with 4 of them if I were to pick a best 10.